In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna speaks with Dr. Sahar Khamis about the complex and evolving role of digital and social media, particularly within the Arab and Muslim world. They explore the concept of social media as a "double-edged sword," discussing its initial promise as a tool for liberation during events like the Arab Spring and its subsequent co-opting by authoritarian regimes for repression and control. Dr. Khamis traces the shift in online activism from early blogs to modern platforms like TikTok and Instagram, which, despite their entertainment focus, have become significant sites for political mobilization on issues ranging from feminism in Iran to combating Islamophobia. The conversation also addresses the rise of influencers who may lack expertise, the creation of ideological echo chambers that stifle dialogue, the challenges of transnational activism from the diaspora, and the critical importance of media literacy in navigating a landscape rife with misinformation and disinformation.
Dr. Sahar Khamis is an associate professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Maryland, College Park, recognized as an expert on Arab and Muslim media, an ethnographer, Islamic feminist, peace and interfaith activist, and an accomplished media commentator and analyst.
Her experience includes serving as the Head of the Mass Communication and Information Science Department at Qatar University (2005–2006), Mellon Islamic Studies Initiative Visiting Professor at the University of Chicago (2014), and Professor of Communication at the American University in Cairo (1990–2004). Since 2014, she has been an associate professor at the University of Maryland.
She is the co-author of the books: Islam Dot Com: Contemporary Islamic Discourses in Cyberspace (Palgrave Macmillan, 2009) and Egyptian Revolution 2.0: Political Blogging, Civic Engagement and Citizen Journalism (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013). She is the co-editor of the book Arab Women’s Activism and Socio-Political Transformation: Unfinished Gendered Revolutions (Palgrave Macmillan 2018). Additionally, she authored and co-authored numerous book chapters, journal articles and conference papers, regionally and internationally, in both English and Arabic. She is the recipient of a number of prestigious academic and professional awards, as well as a member of the editorial boards of several journals in the field of communication, in general, and the field of Arab and Muslim media, in particular.
Sahar Khamis links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sahar-khamis-12565b1a/
https://communication.umd.edu/directory/sahar-khamis
https://saharkhamis.wordpress.com/